Chapter 1: Homecoming

Lucas picked up Izumi and Mori at the airport. He had her crackers, Aleve, and water ready. She was severely jet lagged. In addition, despite all her mental preparation, she was emotionally distraught from not being picked to continue with the college program.

"I'm Lucas, it's good to finally meet you, Mori...or Takeshi?"

"It's okay to call me Takashi since that is the custom," he offered while they shook hands.

They immediately went home as Takashi had arranged for Izumi's luggage to be shipped in advanced of their arrival. Izumi made Takashi take the front seat while she lay down in the back. "Lucas doesn't like to feel like a chauffeur and the guest always gets the front seat," she had explained in advanced.

Takashi looked around as they drove to Lucas' house. This wasn't the first time he was in America, but it was the first time he cared enough to pay attention. This is where Izumi had grown up after all.

They drove through an older, planned neighborhood with the houses all looking very similar. There seems to be about 4 designs to choose from with limited customization...All the fences match...

They finally pulled up at a house that was all light blue siding. It was a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath. The master was on the first floor and the rest of the rooms were upstairs. They walked in and the dining room had no dining table and was more of a 'dump all,' with the boxes Takashi sent stacked neatly against one wall.

"Hey, I have to get to practice. There's some left overs in the fridge. Dad's got poker tonight and Mom's on some business trip. Your keys are on the hook and your car's in the garage. We took turns driving it while you were gone, so I hope you haven't forgotten how to drive." Lucas gave her a peck on the cheek, "You need to shower. You smell like ass."

"Fuck you Lucas" she said as he slid out the door. Takashi was a bit shocked by her foul language. Maybe it's the migraine?He looked up at her walking slowly up the stairs.

"Ya know," Takashi turned to see Lucas in the doorway, "she's probably a lot more frank than how she was in Japan. She said that you guys were very proper and polite … and she's totally not," he laughed to himself. "You'll probably see a different side of her here." Takashi looked thoughtful. "I didn't mean to say it like she was another person or she wasn't who she is... but you know people have different faces and stuff...Who knows, she might have changed while she was away in Japan. It wouldn't be the first time," he added as he ran out the door.

Takashi took his shoes off and followed the path Izumi had taken to her room. It really was like entering another world. The doors were decorated. Lucas' has a white board on it with some pictures taped on. There were some of him and Izumi in dance costumes. The door was cracked open, but Takashi saw his room was very neat and organized, well arranged. He turned and saw Izumi in her room. She was taking off her clothes getting ready to nap away her migraine. He chuckled because her room was completely opposite. It was an organized chaos with lots of items crammed into nooks and crannies all over. There were clothes in a pile on the floor, which she picked up and dumped outside the room.

"Yeah, no maids here to do laundry for me. I'm going to miss that," she smiled weakly. "If you're not tired, I can show you how to work the tv... or you can snoop around in the room while I sleep. The house is pretty much open to you except for Lucas' and his parents' rooms, of course."

Takashi followed her in, "How are you feeling?"

"Like my head was put through a sausage maker, but I just realized something..." she turned and donned a girly voiced, "There's a boy in my room and it's completely messy!" Takashi laughed and pulled her close, backing her slowly towards the bed. "You know typically, we'd close the door first and turn the stereo up really loud..." He scooped her up and laid her down. She really is more flirty...and drugged. I can't believe she's not the least bit self-conscious about running around half naked... maybe because it's her room, her house?

"You need to sleep. You're going to be very grouchy if you don't." He kissed her as he tucked he pulled the covers up to her chin, not missing the opportunity to feel her erect nipples.

"Don't forget to call Mitskuni and let him know you landed okay," she rolled over, "I love you."

"I love you too," and Takashi kissed her ear softly. Izumi fell asleep listening to Takashi talking to Mistkuni, his deep voice rocking her to sleep.

[break]

Takashi awoke the next morning to the sounds of a scurrying household, something that he was not accustomed to. Izumi was not next to him, instead, a note, written in Japanese was beside him. "Morning love, take your time. Towels are beside the bed, use the stuff in the back corner of the tub, that's mine. Come downstairs whenever." He put the note between the pages of his book, making sure to save it for later.

"IZZY! MY TAPE! WHERE'S MY TAPE!" Lucas screamed, running around frantically.

"I don't know I haven't been here for a year! Let me grab my bag... it's not like tape expires..." she almost knocked Takashi over, he watched, amused as she dove into a pile on the floor, and flung its contents, making another pile. "Lucas, heads up!" she called as she ran past the stairs, chucking the bag at him and ran into Lucas' room.

"Not the whole bag!"

"Suck it, you're going to be late. You know Mrs. Bell will kill you if you miss practice..." Lucas ran out the door... and then screamed...

"IZZY!"

"Heads up Lucas." she had already anticipated him forgetting his keys and had them ready.

And with the click of the door, the house was dead silent. Izzy laughed quietly. "Oh man it's good to be home."

"It it always like this?"

"What? Terribly chaotic? Yes. It's worse when Lucas' brother comes to visit."

"I thought Lucas was an only child."

"Oh... hahaha, get ready for this. Lucas' parents are Gail and John Williams. They're divorced. Gail, is now Gail Summers and Lucas's step dad is Robert. Robert was married to a woman named Samantha, who is now remarried. Rob and Sam had Dominic, who is younger than Lucas." Takashi just stood there.

"Lucas and Dom are not blood related at all."

"Is this common?"

"Umm... yeah pretty much. American's love divorce!" she began heading downstairs. "Go take your shower. I'll make you some breakfast. Any requests?"

"Just do whatever you'd normally do."

Izzy made eggs over easy, rice, and bacon for them both. There was OJ and coffee. While they were eating, he looked at the newspaper while she rifled through a stack of mail that Lucas had set aside for her. They were all college application notices. Some were rejections and others were acceptances. Izzy had explained that she had worked with her Program Liaison to apply to different schools, Takashi noticed that there were 5 envelopes; two of the five were tossed straight into the trash.

"Are you not going to open it?"

"Oh, haha, anything that thin is a rejection."

"Are you sure?" he asked, looking back at the trash.

"Wanna make a wager?" she cooly asked.

Chuckling, he said, "You sound like Kyoya…So where were you accepted to?"

"Two local schools and one out of state... but I can forget about the out of state on; that one didn't come with a scholarship. It'll be hard enough going on financial aid in-state, but out of state is ridiculous."

"What's the difference?"

"Hrmmm, lets see... it's about $9-10 thousand a year for full time, in state. Not including books, room and board, etc... and out of state, it's about … oh $25 thousand give or take?" Takashi made no reply, completely unaware of how much of a difficulty it is for students to pay on their own. He was, after all, heir to the Morinozuka Estate. Everything was laid out for him, and he agreed to the path and walked it with ease and pride. He never gave much consideration of what it must be like for those unlike him. After all, Ouran's creed centered around pedigree and wealth. It wasn't until he met Haruhi that he understood a little of the outsideworld; and, even then, Haruhi was exceptionally intelligent. Much smarter than Izzy, who worked very hard to achieve her average (by Ouran's standards) grades.

Takashi noticed her face fell. "What is it?"

"Oh, I have a court date. It's official emancipation from my legal guardians now that I'm 18. It also signifies that I have to move out soon." Another look of shock painted itself across Takashi's face.

"Lucas' family did not adopt me. They just became my legal guardians until I'm 18. At that point, we do this emancipation thing, and I'm a fully realized adult. They won't be held accountable for me or responsible for me. So I'll have to move out, find a job so I can get health insurance, and figure how to go to school."

"Izumi, why don't you just come back to Japan with me?"

"And do what? I have noplans what so ever. Just because I go to Japan doesn't mean that I won't have to find a job to get health insurance, figure out how to go to school, and find a place to live."

Takashi reached for her hand across the table. "You can live with me," he said earnestly.

Irritated, Izumi took her hand back, "I am not some poor little thing that you need to rescue from the slums. I see how you guys treat Haruhi with the 'commoner this' and 'commoner that' and how you feel sorry for her over foods she might not have eaten... I'm sorry Takashi, but that's real life. You guys live in this whole other world. Even at the "commoner level," Izumi did air quotes, "Haruhi and I are completely different. Shit, her dad's a tranny and no one bats an eye. Lucas comes out of the closet and his dad nearly beats him half to death."

Takashi tried to stop Izumi from pacing, he wrapped his arms around her, "Izumi, I'm not trying to treat you like that."

"Yes I know," she buried her face into his chest, "You want to protect me and you want to care for me...and I understand that, I really do... but it feels like an easy way out. I'm not going to just jump from home to home and be some lost puppy looking for someone to love." Takashi let her go as she was not hugging him back.

He settled against the counter, "All I know is that I love you. I don't understand why you're making it complicated." I hate fighting with her. All I want to do is marry her, protect her, provide for her. I just can't understand what she's thinking no matter how hard she tries to explain it to me. She repeats the same words and it doesn't make it any clearer.

"I have to unpack," Izumi said. She grabbed a box and carried it upstairs. Takashi tried to carry it for her, but she wouldn't let him.

"Can I help you get more boxes?" He asked.

"No." Why is she so cold, she won't even look me in the eye now.

Izumi returned with another box and scissors. "Izumi," he walked to her, "please talk to me."

"Why Takashi," she shrugged him off, "What's the point...we've been saying the same thing over and over again."

Then I'll say something different... "Marry me Izumi."

"No!" Takashi's heart broke. He staggered backwards and fell onto her bed. Putting his head in his hands. "Takashi, Takashi!" She ran to him and held him. "I'm sorry." She kissed his face, what part of it she could reach. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean no... I just... God why is this going so wrong?" He still couldn't look at her. "Takashi, please... please look at me." She pulled his hands down. "Takashi, I didn't mean no. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I just don't know what to do with myself right now. Does that make any sense?"

Takashi stood, "No it doesn't." And he went to walk downstairs where he saw Lucas looking up at him.

Lucas put a finger to his lips and jerked his head, indicating he wanted Takashi to follow him. As Takashi walked down, Lucas took Izumi's bag and pulled out cigarettes and a lighter and placed them on the stairs. Then he led Takashi outside.

"She'll be needing those after the fight that you guys had. I wasn't listening, but you were yelling... well she was yelling and your voice just carries..." Lucas was fidgeting, obviously uncomfortable.

"Takashi, she loves you. She loves you more than she knows what to do with herself." He pulled out keys to his car and motioned for Takashi to get in.

"Are we leaving?"

"Yes," Lucas answered, and backed out of the driveway, "and don't worry about Iz. She'll be fine. She knows where we're going."

Takashi was confused. "Does she smoke?"

"Yeah, but only when she's stressed. She picked it up after her parents were killed because it was easier for her to get a hold of than alcohol. Look, let's start at the beginning... Iz and I have been friends since we were what... 5 or so? Maybe a little older. We met in dance class. At one point I thought I was going to be the one to marry her and have kids" he laughed," then I came out." Lucas' side glance to Takashi indicated he needed to explain. "I told my parents I was gay. My mom cried and my dad flipped out. He started beating me up occasionally. Like 'Welcome home, let me beat you.' I didn't care. I cared when he hit my mom. He knocked her off her feet he hit her so hard. I became enraged. My mom was confused and upset about me being gay, but she said she loved me and supported me and that it would take her a while to adjust.

"So when he hit her, I tackled him. But, I'm a dancer and I hit like a girl," he laughed again, no humor in his eyes at all, "He beat me nearly half to death, so my mom left him."

Lucas breathed deep while Takashi took in his words. "We both recovered, emotionally and physically, my mom met John and John didn't mind me being gay, so it worked out. A year after they got married, Izumi's parents were killed. Since she's adopted, she didn't have a family. Her mom's from Japan and never spoke of her family back home. All anyone could guess is that her family wasn't happy she wanted to be with an American, and they ran off here together. Izzy's dad is an only child. His parents were long passed by then, and no other family. Izzy was about to go in the system..." Takashi looked over at Lucas, "Umm... foster care or whatever. It was really horrible. A lawyer was hired, they took her house apart piece by piece and sold what could be used to liquidate to bring down the left over debt that she inherited.

Lucas pulled onto the highway, "Whatever was left, we helped her box up and put into storage. The guy that worked there felt so sorry for her, he made sure that the paperwork would be lost in a black hole... helped her have a spot for free... Anyway, I was going to beg my mom to save her, we got a call that she was in the hospital. Izzy fainted from exhaustion and malnutrition. She was so stressed she'd puke every time she tried to eat. So that's when my mom decided to legally become her guardian. Izzy wouldn't have it though, stubborn bitch...so they went to court and made arrangements that it would be dissolved by emancipation during her 18th year. She was to work to help pay bills, and because of that, she gave up dance.

They pulled off the highway. "Takashi, do you know what it means for someone like Iz to stop dancing? It was just another nail in the coffin. Her parents were gone and so she gave up dance. She wouldn't even take a job teaching dance to kids. She worked as a hotel check-in so she could do school work at the same time. She completely dove into studying. She said it was the only thing with an answer. Then this program thing came, and she decided she wanted to try because her mom was Japanese. She wanted to take her mom to some spa-sen thing, and now she won't go."

Takashi looked up and noticed they were pulling into a cemetery. He wished he would have known, he would have brought something. He felt unprepared.

"She's really scared, Takashi."

"Of what?"

"Of you"

"But why?"

"Of what you mean to her, what you promise her. Iz had a lot of friends when her parents were alive, and then she got into a nasty depression when they were killed. Most of them just gave up on her. It's only been us – my family and her. Japan was also supposed to be a fresh start for her. A chance to start over again. Then she met you, started falling in love. I mean, she was flipped out by the whole "life styles of the rich and famous thing," Lucas paused, "It's a tv show about super rich people." He added.

"Anyway, your world and hers are completely different. When she didn't get a nomination into any university program it freaked her out. It was a slap in the face reminding her that she didn't belong in your world. She feels like she has to earn the right to be with you."

"But it's not like that at all. Everyone already loves her."

"She's stubborn and stupid at times, but that's Iz. I tried telling her it was ridiculous to feel that way. Maybe she'll come around. Maybe she'll be stupid, ruin it all, and you guys break up." Lucas started walking down a side path, towards a tree.

"Why do you say something like that?"

"Because it's probably what she's thinking. Sorry to be blunt like that, but I do know her pretty well…this is them."

Takashi looked down and saw a plain headstone with the date of death carved into it. "Mom" and "Dad" were the only words.

"It's all she could afford. I'll be at the bench over there. Take your time."

Takashi watched Lucas walk off and then sat down at the end of the grave.

My name is Morinozuka Takashi. I am the first born son and next heir to the Morinozuka Estate. I am in love with your daughter, Izumi Saitou and I want to marry her if she'll have me. Thank you, for loving her. If it wasn't for you adopting her, I would never have met her. I am sorry I had to meet her under such sad circumstances. I am sorry I cannot formally meet you but I hope you are happy in your afterlife. Your daughter is amazing and has taught me so much in our short time together…I promise you, I will take care of her, even if she won't have me. I love her so much and I know do not want anyone else other than her. I hope you can trust me. Domo-arigato gozaimasu.

Lucas stood as Takashi approached. "You know, if she goes back to Japan, it'll be okay for her. She's never visited here, not even when they were buried. She couldn't handle it and now she just avoids it. So thanks for coming."

They went home to find Izzy and John carrying down emptied boxes.

"So did you actually unpack?" Lucas asked as he went up to her room, "Ahh, you just dumped it all out?"

"Suck it Terk..." Izzy smiled. John moved around Izzy and made his way toward Takashi.

"I'm John Williams."

"Takashi Morninozuka, sir."

"Oh just call me John. It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise, John."

Awkward silence

"In a few days we're going to court to dissolve the guardianship. You can't come because you're not a US Citizen, so we're going to have to leave you here."

"That is okay."

More awkward silence

"Lucas, what is your dad doing with Takashi?"

"Probably giving him the "don't touch my not-daughter or I'll kill you" speech." They laughed as they put some stuff away. "Why are you emptying out the boxes when you have no idea where you're putting anything? You're just moving piles around the room."

Izzy stopped, and leaned against the foot of her bed. "Because I don't know what'll happen to me if I stop moving." Lucas moved towards her and wrapped his arms around her. "You could just fall in love with that gorgeous piece of meat downstairs."

Izzy laughed and slapped Lucas' arm and leaned her head against his. "I do love him. But I don't know what I'm going to do with myself."

"Isn't that the best part of life though, exploring the unknown with the one you love?"

"How did you get to become some old wise sage?"

Lucas hugged her tighter and whispered, "I came out and got to explore being who I really am with a mom that loved me, a new dad that accepted me, and my best friend. You can explore a new part of your life, with a foine piece of man flesh downstairs."

"Hahaha. Can you ever stop talking about boys?"

Lucas kissed her head and headed out the door. "Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be Iz."